Arson and the BCS, my thoughts.

So I guess we'll start with THE question of my young generations time; University of Michigan or University of Florida? As a midwesterner, a fan of the Big Ten (11), and a friend of some die-hard UM fans, I certainly have to go with Michigan. I suppose an argument could be made for Florida; that whole hardest schedule, they actually won their conference, they haven't had their chance yet. Right or wrong, the decision will be made by a computer so at least no one person can be attacked over the decision. Oh, and can we go ahead and get ready for this argument? No doubt, if OSU wins the game, they are national champs. But if UM or UF win the national title game, are they outright champs? Certainly if the other team loses their BCS bowl, then yes they are, but what if UM goes and beats OSU then UF blows out whoever they play? I'm not all about dual national champions, but if the AP puts at #2 the opposite of the BCS #2, well, let's just say things could get crazy. Anyway, yeah, just think about it.

Now for my next topic, arson. Maybe I'm cynical, or I just assume that people are mostly shady, but anytime I see a place burn down it is by default that I say it was an act of arson. Especially if the old place was a run down shackle that looked like a crack house, not that I'm saying I know what a crack house looks like....but you know, I've heard a thing or two. So the reasoning behind all of this, there's a house close to my old house that burnt down. It was ok, but old. Well their new house, it belongs in Carmel, or Fishers. It's a huge brick house that just looks absolutly beautiful. So I assumed it was arson and as long as they don't get caught, then good for them. But the question that sparked all of this was me wondering how much you're allowed to take out of the old house before you light it up? Obviously, nothing like a couch or a piano can go, because that would be a huge red light. But you certainly get all your family pictures out, right? TV, furniture, clothes, dishes....all replaceable. With the computer, you just make disc backups of everything and you're set there. How much do you think you can get away with taking before it looks suspicious? I'm just wondering, and just throwing it out there.

So for you other blogger.com'ers out there, are there any of you that haven't switched to the new version of blogger yet? If you haven't, then would you agree with me that blogger.com is being shady? I know that I still have the Asser, but the slowness of this webpage is rediculous. They are sooo making my computer slow intentionally....somehow. I just don't want to create a google account, because I have enough accounts elsewhere. I suppose I'll break down eventually.

Alright, it's bedtime now. Looking forward to the next couple weeks, got a lot of Christmas things coming up.

Well how about that?

What a great way to start my day. Ok, well....not start....but interject with. So I was looking for my old headlights to Monte!!!! so I can change them and not get pulled over again, and as a result of, I emptied out the trunk of Monte!!!! where I had one of my winter coats. I put it on and reached into my pockets and there, quite amazingly I may add, was my second set of keys to Baby. To give you an idea of how long I've been without these, there were some things with the keys that I know I needed for something in October....of my senior year of college. That was 25 months ago. I haven't put my hands in the pocket's of this jacket for 25 months. Now I know I don't get hold, but maybe I have too many winter jackets if it didn't work into the rotation for that long. Just a thought.

That, my friends, could be the source of much fun for me. I just put some clothes in Megler's washer. It's one of those front loads where you can see what's going on. Yeah, it's awesome. I want to put a cat in there just to watch it tumble....come on, you know it'd be fun. You'd have to worry about the cat scratching on the ceramic though, that'd be no good.

So anyway, I had a good weekend. Went to the Spaghetti Factory and a Pacers game Friday night. We got some 40th anniversary Pacers deal where he had upper level tickets for $4. The seats weren't bad (see pictures), especially for $4. They lost, which from I'm told is all Matt's fault. Enough of that. Saturday Hassler and I went to the IU game up at Purdue. I was disappointed but more than that, I was inspired. It was a sloppy game but I can confidently say that just a couple unlucky breaks kept IU from winning. I would hardly say Purdue was the better team. It enourages me to believe next year could be very promising. Makes me feel better about my plans to get season tickets. All pictures are on Facebook and will eventually be put on Yahoo photos. I hate uploading on Yahoo photos so those will probably take an extra day or two.

I'm looking forward to a three day week and the upcoming holiday season. I am looking for gift ideas for people. Mainly for friends but evidently I have to create a list for myself so tell me what I want, and I'll evaluate how badly I want it. I guess I can never go wrong with anything IU or Colts or Raiders. I don't know. We'll see.

Nah, you won't forget.

Survey time, honest response here needed people. Regardless of your feelings for IU. Do you think a front license plate with red would work on Superior Blue Metallic Monte!!!!? The plate I most like as of now is a silver reflective one with a crimson IU logo in the middle. The IU logo also is reflective. Think about it, and let me know your thoughts.

Steak 'n Shake is awesome. Since those d-bags posted a 'Go Cowboy's' type of add in the Indy media (by accident mind you) they are offereing free shakes to dine-in customers from 10a-10p today, Sunday the 19th. No other purchase necessary.

In about two minutes and twenty seconds of football time I'm going to be rather disappointed. I have a feeling the Colts are about to lose this one.

Ok, so that's enough of a blog for today. Time to finish laundry and try to get Baby cleaned up.

Holding tryouts

Yeah, this is my formal announcement. I/we are holding tryouts for a couple different things.

1) I am holding tryouts for someone who can actually play me in Madden. Yeah, that's right, I threw down....I went there. It's been brought.
2) We are holding tryouts for our basketball team. I call Kyle a 2 guard. I'm sure he calls himself, and Megan will probably agree, a 1-2-3-4-5 guard because let's face it, he likes to shoot....from anywhere. I would call myself a modest 3/4. So we need the others and subs.

So anyway, the basketball team. League starts in January, it's a rec league at the old Brownsburg varsity gym. I'm serious about wanting to find other people to play on our team so let me know if you're interested.

So I just realized I never posted a blog about Italy. I suppose that makes me a complete slap/loser.

So not sure how you wouldn't have known by now because I've told just about everybody, but I've moved back to Indianapolis with a new job and everything. I've moved in with Hassler which, and time will tell for sure, is most likely going to be interesting. I haven't caused any damage, I keep my stuff relatively clean, and Baby has a new home inside the garage, so not a bad start. I know, I know, why don't I keep Monte!!!! in the garage so it stays nice? Well, since you asked, evidently not everybody else in this house (not naming names) sees Baby for the beauty that she is and refused to let 'that piece of shit' sit in the driveway. So as compromise I guess she has to live in the garage, which I guess in retrospect, should be good for her because that's less of a winter beating she has to take. Speaking of Baby, I think Cat and Megan wanted to assault her the other day. Mainly, take off the back bumper. I laughed it off at the time, but I really should be more careful in the future, they could have had their way and I would have been hurtin'.

So anyway, reason for being in Indy. I'm working with Hassler at Rolls-Royce. Yeah, it's awesome in case you were wondering. In my short time there (five days) I can already say I've been more intrigued/felt more like I have a kick ass job than I ever did at that other place. We're working on the LiftFan for the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35). That link has some video and whatnot, actually, very interesting information. Take a look, anytime the plane lands vertically, that's what we do. We make sure it can land vertically. It's not worth going into details because a) you don't care, b) I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you. I think part of the reason I love working there so much is that what I do actually has purpose, oh, and the fact that I work on a military jet. I mean, come on, it's fricking' sweet.

Been back for 1.5 weeks so far, had a couple awesome weekends so far. Got the Old Oaken Bucket game up in West Lafayette this weekend, yeah, it's going to be fun. Then Thanksgiving the next weekend. So let me know if you want to get together sometime. I'll be around.

Holla! Hopefully I'll blog again soon.

Best....Weekend....Ever

Found out some good news Friday. With time there will be more progression as to the extent of the goodness of news. Don't worry, the logic is there. Friday was a good evening. Got to hang out with Snyder, Hassler, Thiede, little bro 1 (apparently little bro 2 is too cool for us), and a bunch of other guys I hadn't gotten to see in a while. Sleeping on the floor isn't really all that it's made out to be, I'll be honest with you. My alternative was a couch that has what can only be described as rebar at 1/3 and 2/3 of the way through it....and you stick to it. Yeah, great accomodations Snyder. That place he lives in. Apparently it used to be a motel then it was turned into an apartment complex. And by used to be a motel, I mean it is roughly circa 1930's. And the shower head is evidently the original. Saturday went well also. Got in a nice bike ride. The Hoosiers were able to pull out the Western Michigan win (Rose Bowl here we come). My Volunteers were also able to get the win. I guess a better description would be that the Volunteers annihilated/mutilated/tortured the Cal Bears. Saturday evening was quite a bit of fun. Kober peed his pants and I got to catch up with some old friends. Hmmm, just realized this blog is really different than my normal. A lot more like description here than the typical thought provoking blog. Anyway, Sunday was action packed with Cranium, symphonies and Kyle/sangria. The boy gets going and you got to watch out for him. Some more biking Monday and a drive back.

Hmmm, I suppose best....weekend....ever comment because it was just a collaboration of events that lead to that statement. Time for bed. I suppose I still need to hook up that Italy blog. Yeah, I'll get on that.

World Cup

So it's been two months since I last updated, yeah, my bad. I'd like to say I've been busy, but we all know that doesn't mean I've been too busy to update this thing.

Leaving for Italy two weeks from yesterday. That is so scary. Next time I don't have to work that's where I'll be. It's weird when I put it in those terms. I guess I just don't know what to expect, and that's what is kind of rocking my world.

Ok, now just so it's out there, in order of favorites I am cheering for the following teams in the World Cup. I will address elimination once favorites are stated. USA, England, Netherlands, Ukraine, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Brazil. So that's a top eight, and some teams make it out of virtue of them having some of my favorite players. Also noted, out of those top eight, only one team didn't make it out of the group stage. Yeah, it's crappy, but what are you going to do? Who would have thought Ghana would get out? Speaking of them, I can't stand it when people dive like they were doing the entire match. If you want something to throw a yellow card on, throw it on that. I suppose you could blame the entire match on the refs, because it would be easy to do, but we shouldn't. I'm not going to say that the US deserved to win their Czech or Ghana matches, but they didn't deserve to lose the Ghana and the Italy matches like they did. FIFA said they were going to step up the cards and the penalties and whatnot, but you can't just change something overnight and expect it to all of a sudden start working. I think I can say that the refs hurt the Italy game, but the Ghana match, we just didn't play. It's like the US just wasn't playing. Beasley and Donovan needed to attack, go at the the other teams defense. I don't know, it's over now. I still got 7 teams and my favorite three players left in the tournament.

So I don't really have a whole lot else to type about. Got to go biking and work on the tan.

Yes, that's really all I have left anymore these days. Biking, working, and trying to get tan.

World Cup

So it's been two months since I last updated, yeah, my bad. I'd like to say I've been busy, but we all know that doesn't mean I've been too busy to update this thing.

Leaving for Italy two weeks from yesterday. That is so scary. Next time I don't have to work that's where I'll be. It's weird when I put it in those terms. I guess I just don't know what to expect, and that's what is kind of rocking my world.

Ok, now just so it's out there, in order of favorites I am cheering for the following teams in the World Cup. I will address elimination once favorites are stated. USA, England, Netherlands, Ukraine, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Brazil. So that's a top eight, and some teams make it out of virtue of them having some of my favorite players. Also noted, out of those top eight, only one team didn't make it out of the group stage. Yeah, it's crappy, but what are you going to do? Who would have thought Ghana would get out? Speaking of them, I can't stand it when people dive like they were doing the entire match. If you want something to throw a yellow card on, throw it on that. I suppose you could blame the entire match on the refs, because it would be easy to do, but we shouldn't. I'm not going to say that the US deserved to win their Czech or Ghana matches, but they didn't deserve to lose the Ghana and the Italy matches like they did. FIFA said they were going to step up the cards and the penalties and whatnot, but you can't just change something overnight and expect it to all of a sudden start working. I think I can say that the refs hurt the Italy game, but the Ghana match, we just didn't play. It's like the US just wasn't playing. Beasley and Donovan needed to attack, go at the the other teams defense. I don't know, it's over now. I still got 7 teams and my favorite three players left in the tournament.

So I don't really have a whole lot else to type about. Got to go biking and work on the tan.

Yes, that's really all I have left anymore these days. Biking, working, and trying to get tan.

Totally boring probably, but I bet you'll still read it.

So the following is like a play-by-play of me watching A History of Violence. May be of interest to you if you've seen it. I'm just offering some of my insights.

Another warning. The following is seriously just me commenting on the movie, so don't read it, waste five minutes of your life you'll never get back, then complain to me.

History of Violence is.... Who wears a long sleeve shirt and pants when they live in the southwest, presumably Texas, and it's "already this hot at 8 a.m.?" "We never got to be teenagers together." Hehe, giggity, awesome. Wait, you can show that in a mainstream movie? Side note, if you've seen the movie, try to visualize the parts I'm going through as I make these observations and it will make sense. Tokin' up in the middle of downtown, real smart guys, real smart. Even smarter than tokin' up downtown is driving drunk and pissing off the killers. Right in the ol' noggin, that's what I'm talking about. They can show that in a movie? In one, out the other. What? This takes place in Indiana? Millbrook, Indiana I am not familiar with. Oh, perhaps because it isn't real!!!! I'll be honest, Indiana doesn't get a lot of movie coverage, sans Phil's favorite movie. Maybe that's why it's so nice around? Yes, perhaps. Short movie, must progress quickly, and that's why we're getting to the eye so quickly. Joey, from Philly, hmmm, I'm intrigued. Bad news bears for the po-po. As I told Snyder the other day, I would like to get into organized crime. Let me rephrase, I would have liked to have gotten in back in the day, like when it was cool and cops could be bought, back then, yeah, when it was cool.... Ooo, he wants something from her, hehe, intimately. We need to start moving along now so I can start to figure out who Joey/Tom is. Yeah, that's what I want to know. And that boys and girls, is what we call going postal. That'll get you suspended from high school. Oh wait, he did get suspended. Ok, his boy has like some serious issues. Buy a gun, that's your only option!!!! Ok, you got a gun, buy another gun. Who's Viggo's wife? She's got some hotness working. Me likey. Desperate is not attractive though, I'll tell you that right now. Oh, we're getting somewhere now. Come on Joey, let us know what's going on. Ok, lot of blood in this movie. Lots of it I say. Ok, now, how much would it hurt to have your, oh um, name of the bone right above your nose? Anyway, yeah, that driven right into your brain. Lots of pain. Viggo, what's with the look? Show some appreciation. Worst....fake....throw up....ever! Serial schizo, yes. Haha, it was available. Oh, the brushoff, he's not getting any. So obviously we hid the bodies I guess? Or was it all self defense and we know that? Ok, help me out here somebody. I need closure, just like everything in life, I need some damn closure!!!! How do you transition to that? On the stairs? Come on, let's at least be realistic. They need some counseling or something. What, hoah, snuck that one in there on me. What? Indy to Philly out of the blue overnight, on all state highways. Ok (eyes rolling). Take a plane, you've got the means. Starting to get some resolution I guess. Maybe working on that closure part. Ok, tell me I'm wrong, but why does that look like the house from Richie Rich? Ok, why would I remember that? Whose desk is seriously that clean? Apparently he doesn't do much 'real' business. The man can kill, I will tell you that. He sure can kill. Did this guy never get shown how to hold a gun? More blood, a big theme here. Well, I'm not all too clear on how you transition from this one. Awkward silence in the Stall household. Cute kid, now I know why tigers eat their young. How do they possibly know where he's been? And who eats dinner that late anyway?!?!?!?!

Final Impressions: Good, but I've seen better. Wanted a little more explanation. Only 96 minutes long, could have got that extra 30 minutes and made a little more out of it.

Ok, so if you're not sure how that went, then DYKT, this is basically what Snyder and I do over AIM when we watch CSI or a ballgame. Yes, that is our lives, sad as it may be.

More early morning random thoughts.

John Lequizamo just doesn't fit on ER, no two ways about it. With this whole DVR thing, not sleeping Sunday nights is kind of ok because I get to watch all the tv shows I missed during the week. But still, I long for the glory days of Goose and George Clooney. I like Kovac (sic) and Abby, but they're like the veterans, along with the beyotch that has a crutch. Other than that, just isn't quite the same. So not that I've ever had the desire to, but I see no reason to ever go to Africa....ever. I'm just not sure what it could bring me. I'm sure it would be humbling, which we all need, but I just don't think I could handle it. I know that's random, but whatever. What? There's Carter! Ok, I haven't seen him forever. I guess he's an older guy, but he took his drug relapse break there for a couple years.

Las Vegas....new favorite show? It's a possibility. Has hotties, has smart-aleck quips, has action when needed. I'm all about it.

Played soccer today. I'm going to make my team watch real people play soccer....that or we're going to practice. I think possession was like 80/20 today, the 20 being my team. We just weren't passing and we weren't keeping our heads up. Without our best player it just isn't quite the same, I'll be honest. He keeps a good flow, and he distributes well. We play much more like a team than we did when we first started last summer, I'm all about it. Argh! Somebody yoinked, or accidentally took, my soccer ball today. My sister and I have been playing with that ball since like, forever. Hopefully it gets returned next week to the lost and found, otherwise I'm not sure I would know what to do.

"You have died of dysentery."

Hmmm, I need to work the track somehow into my month of May. I think if I can get that week off maybe I can head there on like Monday or Tuesday, maybe back early the next week? No, that wouldn't work, have to be Peoria until Thursday night for hockey. Oh yeah, hockey is so much fun. I was kind of sore last week. I done got myself beat up by falling and whatnot. Oh well, it's all good.

I'm thinking about finding myself a nice cardboard box, or maybe a van down by the river to move into. Or I'm thinking about raiding the basement of the new house Stu is moving into. You know, all options that are out there on the table right now.

So last week's South Park didn't really seem to promote an agenda, which is really weird, because like the entire season thus far has made light of a recent or somewhat recent event in the real world.

Sometimes I wonder if people really need glasses, or if they convince themselves that they need them, because right now, I'm not sure....and I think I've convinced myself otherwise, but I'm not sure. What a conundrum.

Ooops, need to get my registrations on my cars. Wait, it's on Baby, need to get it in Monte, but I don't really drive Monte a whole lot because I don't have the occasions for it. Oh well, soon enough I will.

Someone tell Bronson Arroyo the double eared batting helmet has got to go.

My 3:27 a.m. thoughts

I know, two posts in two days, after going 1.5 months without a post, that's just how it is.

So if you ever have a chance to live the life that I do, you'll realize there's not much on tv except for music videos.

Just some thoughts....

Madonna - How many kids? How old? I straight up don't care, she's still got it. Now, saying what 'it' is with her is hard to do because Madonna's 'it' has always been a little off of everyone else. I just saw her music video on VH1 espanol where she's wearing that 80's jumpsuit thing with the oversized boombox and roller skates. Yeah, weird, but still hot.

New things that irk me. Apparently we don't put the musician and the song title on music videos anymore. I'm watching this video on VH1 espanol again and I have no idea what he's saying but I'd like to be able to look it up. No can do.

Outkast - 'Roses' is still a hilarious video and 'I Love the Way You Move' is just weird. Like a different kind of weird, like a hard to explain weird.

Kelly Clarkson - Not sure what style she's going for in the 'Walk Away' video, but I don't care, she's still Kelly. She can do whatever she wants.

Michael Jackson - As a part of my philosophy that if you bring joy somehow into my life, I really don't believe all the laws and rules of society apply to you that I make this portion of my post. I would pay decent money for a Michael Jackson concert if I was somehow guaranteed he would play all of his good stuff, and he wouldn't wig out on me. I don't care about what he likes to do (little boys, oh snap!) in his spare time.

The Killers - Ok, now this is pushing it. 'Mr. Brightside' on VH1 espanol. I just don't buy that. The Madonna video on here at least had her saying some spanish in it. But nothing about jealousy can inherently be lumped in with the spanish culture.

Cascada - 'Everytime We Touch' has worked it's way into the years breakthrough European dance song that I like but somehow feel guilty listening to it.

Huey Lewis and the News - 'Fore' will always be one of my top five albums. As a sidenote though, I also like 'I Want a New Drug.' Well, apparently he got that new drug....and then some, when he was making the video for 'Doing It All For My Baby.'

John Mellencamp - Nothing quite like listening to some old Johnny that just makes me think about Indiana.

Kanye - 'All Falls Down' still perplexes me to no end how they do that. I know technology has done some wondrous things recently, but still, that video is just so cool

Non music related - I want to thank my boy for pointing out Ed vs. Spencer on BBC America. it is one of the funniest shows on tv right now, hands down. I would highly recommend you find out if you have BBC America and watch that show, some of the funniest shit out there. It's on Thursday nights at 10 central time, and reruns Monday night at 10.

All right, that's enough for one night/day/morning/I don't even know what to call how I break up my day anymore.

Later!